Filer Boy Scout Troop Recognized for Service to American Legion Hall

FILER, Idaho (KLIX) – The American Legion Hall in Filer was once just a building to Cejay Driscoll, but now it’s a facility in which he has a little more pride.

“It means something more to me now,” he said.

The 17-year-old was one of nine Eagle Scouts who were recognized by Sen. Mike Crapo on Monday for the work Troop 7 did to revamp the World War I-era building.

What started a couple of years ago as an Eagle project to repair the roof turned into a project that encompassed remodeling many parts of the building.

The Scouts completed their project earlier this year, and on Monday they received the Idaho Spirit award, which includes a certificate of appreciation and a U.S. flag that flew above the nation’s capital.

Sen. Crapo thanked the boys – as well as their parents and leaders and other volunteers – for the work they did to honor local veterans and serving their local community. He said the award highlights the exceptional service Idahoans give in their communities, and what he saw from the Scouts makes him more confident that the community of Filer is in good hands.

“Thank you for helping to make America such a wonderful, wonderful place to live,” he said.

Troop leader Eric Peterson said the building’s foundation is solid, but many other parts of the facility needed repair.

Not only did the Scouts replace a leaking roof, they refurbished the bathrooms and floors, installed new windows and electrical lighting, replaced the furnace, refinished the kitchen and installed new counter tops, and gave the place a fresh coat of paint, among other things.

To complete the work the Scouts received help from located donors, raising $38,000 in the process, and had the assistance of a number of volunteers. In all, around 1,500 volunteer hours were spent on the project, Peterson said.

Driscoll said he and his friends weren’t too excited about the project when it started, which was supposed to be just replacing the roof. But their feelings started to change as the project drew closer – and then when they started seeing all of the other things the building needed.

“It just grew from there,” he said – both the project list and the boys’ excitement.

Now that it’s finished, Driscoll said he views the building differently than he did before doing the project.

Crapo said he believed the project was an “example of incredible service,” exemplifying the meaning of the Idaho Spirit award. "Thank you," he said.